Holder for collapsible tube containers



July 18, 1939. J HQLT 2,166,107

HOLDER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 12, 1938 INVENTOR Jbs g /v H 4 T Patented July 18, 1939 HOLDER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUB CONTAINERS Joseph Holt, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 12, 1938, Serial No. 190,243

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in holders and automatic closure devices for collapsible tube containers, and it has reference more particularly to an attachment for collapsible tubes of 5 those kinds in which tooth paste, shaving cream, and similar products are now quite extensively sold and from which tubes the contents is ejected by collapsing pressure applied against the tube walls.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a tube holder to which tubes of the above character may be applied for easy handling, and which holder is equipped with a tube closure cap supported on an actuating member, and which cap is normally held in tube closing position thereby, but may be moved to open position by a slight pressure against its actuating member and which automatically returns to closed position when that pressure is removed.

More specifically stated, the present invention relates to holders for that type of collapsible tube having a discharge opening leading through an exteriorally threaded neck and to which neck a cap is normally applied for closing the discharge opening when contents of the tube is not being dispensed; it being a further object of this invention to provide a holder to which such a tube may be functionally applied and secured upon removal of its closure cap therefrom and by threading the neck of the tube into an interiorally threaded opening in a part of the holding plate.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a closure cap for the applied tube which may be manually actuated to an open position, while holding the tube in the hand in normal dispensing position, by a slight inward pressure of the fingers against the closure actuating member, and which cap will be automatically returned to tube closing position upon relief of that pressure.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and in the combination of parts embodied in a preferred form of tube holding device, and in certain modifications thereof, as will hereinafter :be fully described.

In accomplishing the various objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred form of tube holding device, and in certain modifications thereof, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the various objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. l is a perspective view, showinga collapsible tube as applied to a holder and closure device embodied by the present invention, and 5 illustrating the closure cap in open position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder as applied to a tube; parts being shown in cross section for better illustration of the application of the tube to the device. 10

Fig. 8 is a top view of the device, showing, in dotted lines, the open position of the closure cap.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a device of an alternative or modified type of construction. 1

Fig. 5 is a top view of the device of Fig. 4 as applied, and illustrating the manner of holding the tube in the hand and for moving the closure cap to open position.

Fig. 6 is a side view of still another form off 2 device.

Referring more in detail to the drawing I designates, in its entirety, the preferred form of tube holder and closure device embodied by this invention, as designed to be used in con- 5 nection with collapsible tubes of that kind designated by reference numeral 2; such tubes having an exteriorally threaded neck portion 3 formed with a discharge opening 4 through which the contents of the tube may be ejected by 30 applying collapsing pressure against the tube walls.

The holder, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a substantially stifi frame plate 5, preferably having a length approximately equal to 5 that of the tube to be applied thereto, and slightly dished transversely to give stiffness thereto and to better receive the rounded side of the tube thereagainst. At its upper end, the plate 5 has a laterally directed bracket portion 5a 40 formed with an interiorally threaded opening 6 therethrough of a size to receive the threaded neck 3 of the tube 2, as noted in Fig. 2, as a means of securing the tube properly in the holder. When the tube is thus applied to the 45 holder, the body portion thereof lies along and against the dished side of the frame plate 5 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. i

In order to close the tube when applied with its original cap removed, to the holder device, I 50 have provided a closure cap Hi. This cap is fixed to an actuating means whereby it may be manually moved to open position and automatically returned to closed position. This actuating means comprises a length of spring wire 55 formed with a straight mounting portion. i2 that is disposed along the longitudinal edge of the plate 5 and rotatably secured thereto within' plate 5; there preferably being a depression formedin the plate 5, as at 18 in Fig. 2, to receive the end of the wire arm I20.

It will here be explained that the spring tension in the parts 12, [2b and i2c is such as to yieldingly retain the closure member ID in closed position over the opening 6 and against a stop pin 2! as seen in Fig. 3. However, by applying an inward pressure against the leg I20, whereby to move the part l2b inwardly as to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, the part i2 will be rotated in its hearings in such manner as to swing the closure In to an open position as in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The tension in the wire then automatically returns the cap to closed position when this pressure is released.

The preferred way of using the device is to grasp the tube and holder as seen in Fig. 1, with the thumb in position to press against the tube and the fingers extended about the plate 5 and in contact with wire I20. Then, by actuating the leg 12b inwardly by pressure of the fingers, .the cap Ill will be swung to open position. Then by pressure of the thumb against the tube, its contents will be ejected from the opening 4. When the cap I is returned to closed position, it cuts ofi the discharge and seals the tube.

In Figs. 4 and is illustrated an alternative type of closure comprising acap 20 having an interiorally threaded socket 2| to receive the threaded neck 3 of the tube 2, and having an opening 22 at the base of the socket opening through the cap. A closure cap or plate 25 is disposed flatly upon the top surface of the cap 20 to cover the opening 22. An actuating handle, designated in its entirety at 24, is provided for moving the plate 25 between open and closed positions. This handle comprises a single piece of spring wire bent to form a straight mounting portion 26 that is revolubly contained in a vertical hole or bore 21 through a lateral projection 28 on cap 20. At its upper end, the part 26 has a laterally directed end 29 fixed in the plate 25. From the lower end of part 26 there extends a horizontal arm portion 261) that turns upwardly, then inwardly, and is fixed at its end in a horiarcane? zontal hole 30 in the lateral extension 28 of the cap 20.

The tension in this wire handle member is such as to yieldingly hold the, capor plate in closed position over the hole, and against a limit pin 3i in the top surface of. the cap 20, as seen in Fig. 5.

In use, the tube is gripped, as in Fig. 5, and pressure applied with the thumb against the arm 24 to swing it to the dotted line position. This action causes the plate 25 to be displaced from over the opening 22 for discharge of material by pressure against the tube walls.

The device of Fig. 6 is somewhat like that of Figs. 4 and 5, since it comprises a cap 20' threaded onto the tube neck and equipped with a similar discharge opening 22' for ejection of material. A closure plate 25" is fitted over the opening 22' on top of cap 20 and is fixed by a pivot pin 40. A handle member 4! extends from plate 25' and has a thumb piece 42 depending down along the side of the cap. A coiled spring 43, wound about the pivot pin, acts on the-cap and thumb piece to normally hold the plate 25' in closed position, as in the device of Fig. 5.

Devices of this kind may be made in various sizes to be applicable to tubes of various kind and size. Also, they may be made of various materials. and may depart in detail from those.

illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention.

When so used, they afiord an easy means 01' handling the tube and of dispensing the tube contents as desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A closure for collapsible tube containers of that kind having an externally threaded discharge neck comprising a cap formed with a fiat top surface and having a socket in its under side to receive the tube discharge neck therein to fixedly mount the cap and having a discharge passage from the base of the socket to the top surface of the cap, and having a laterally opening socket in one side thereof, a closure plate disposed flatly against the top surface and overlying the said opening, a pivot pin extended through the plate and mounting the latter on the cap, and extending through said laterally opening socket, a handleextended from the plate to the side of the cap and movable for actuating the plate to uncover said opening, a stop on the cap for limiting the 'closing movement of the plate and I a coiled spring mounted on that part of the said pin extending through the laterally opening socket of the cap and bearing against the handle to yieldingly urge the plate to closed position.

JOSEPH HOLT. 

